PPP3 - PLACEMENT RESEARCH

In preparation for the mandatory two week work placement that must be completed this year I started reviewing design agencies and studios based in Leeds. In preparation for the placement I considered the location of the studio in relation to my current financial situation. Unfortunately, due to lack of money for travel and accommodation I am unable to travel too far out of the Leeds area. Therefore, the selection of agencies and studios I reviewed are all based in and around the Leeds area. 

The agencies will be assessed and the ones with most relevance to my personal and professional practice will be contacted to try and secure a placement. Additionally, if a placement cannot be organised then I will enquire about the possibility of a studio visit. 



ANALOGUE 

Analogue are a small, multi-discipline Leeds based design agency specialising in brand and digital design.

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Passion for innovation - idea driven design.
• Brand Identities - relevant to my design practice. 
• Craft - relevant to my design practice.
• Inspiring work.
• Range of clients, big and small.
• Small team of designers. 

Link

PROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Analogue team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Specialise in brand identities - relevant to my practice.
• Focus on craft aspect of projects  - relevant to my practice.
• Inspirational work. 
• Small team of designers - Easy to talk with everyone there. 

PROJECT 53

Project 53 are a Leeds based design agency that thrive on brand design and digital development. 

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Multi-disciplinary studio - both print & web covered. 
• Brand Identities - relevant to my design practice. 
• Inspiring work.
• Work with local businesses - supports local economy. 
• Small team of designers. 

Link

PROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Project 53 team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Specialise in brand identities - relevant to my practice.
• Inspirational work. 
• Small team of designers - Easy to talk with everyone there. 

ELMWOOD

Elmwood are a large, award-winning agency based in Leeds. With their large workforce Elmwood cover a broad range of design disciplines and complete projects for a list of clients including Anchor butter and Walmart. An appealing aspect of the Elmwood agency is the fact that the actively try to reduce their impact on the environment through a number of schemes.

Link

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Multi-disciplinary studio - broad range of disciplines covered. 
• Large studio, large workforce. 
• Big corporate clients - not personally appealing.
• Environmentally aware. 
• Placements available. 

ROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Elmwood team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Environmentally friendly studio - Relevant to practice. 
• Placements available.

GOLDEN

Golden is a multi-disciplinary design agency based in Leeds.

Link

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Multi-disciplinary studio - broad range of disciplines covered. 
• Small studio.
• Range of clients big and small.
• Inspiring work.

PROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Golden team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Inspirational work. 
• Small team of designers - Easy to talk with everyone there. 

DUO

Duo is a small Leeds based studio consisting of two designers, Paul and Emily who, between them have fourteen years of experience working within the creative industry. 

Link

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Multi-disciplinary studio.
• Print focused but web covered also - print focus is relevant to my design practice.
• Brand Identity work - relevant to my design practice. 
• Inspiring work.
• Work with a range of clients and local businesses. 
• Tiny team

.

PROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Duo team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Specialise in brand identities - relevant to my practice.
• Print focused -  relevant to my practice.
• Inspirational work. 
• Small team of designers - Easy to talk with everyone there. 

UNIT

Unit is a multi-disciplinary graphic design studio based in Leeds founded by Si Billam. Unit produce a broad range of work ranging from branding and identity to public art installations.

Link

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Multi-disciplinary studio.
• Range of work produced.
• Brand Identity work - relevant to my design practice. 
• Inspiring work.
• Work with a large range of clients. 

.

PROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Unit team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Range of disciplines covered - Interesting projects. 
• Inspirational work. 

ROBOT FOOD

Robot Food are a small Leeds based studio focused on producing forward thinking branding and identity work. 

Link

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Multi-disciplinary studio.
• Branding and Identity focused - Relevant to practice. 
• Range of work produced.
• Inspiring work.
• Work with a large range of clients.
• Small studio. 

.

PROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Robot Food team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Specialise in brand identities - relevant to my practice.
• Focus on packaging - relevant to my practice. 
• Print focused -  relevant to my practice.
• Inspirational work. 
• Small team of designers - Easy to talk with everyone there. 

SPLIT STUDIO 

Split studio is a small agency based in Leeds specialising in creating graphic design for print and web based outcomes. 

Link

Agency summary;

• Leeds based - Local. 
• Multi-disciplinary studio.
• Branding and Identity focused - Relevant to practice. 
• Inspiring work.
• Broad range of clients.
• Small studio. 
• Placements available.

.

PROJECT EXAMPLES 

Below are some images of work produced by the Split team that I find inspiring;

Images sourced from - Link

RELEVANCE; 

• Local to Leeds - easy to travel to. 
• Specialise in brand identities - relevant to my practice.
• Print focused -  relevant to my practice.
• Inspirational work. 
• Small team of designers - Easy to talk with everyone there. 
• Placements available. 

MOST RELEVANT STUDIOS/AGENCIES 

After outlining and analysing a number of Leeds based studios and agencies I was able to define the ones that had most relevant to my design practice. Studios that have the most relevance are print focused, specialise in branding and identity focused projects and create quality, inspirational work. The short list of agencies I will initially email are listed below; 

• Analogue.
• Duo.
• Robot Food.
• Split studio.